Parents Be Careful: This May Save Your Child’s Life!

The Academy of Pediatrics of America has recommended that children should sleep with their parents in the same room at least in the first six months in order to minimize the cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. They also recommend for parents not to share their bed with their children, but provide a separate bed for them. In his way, the risk of this syndrome will be reduced by almost 50%.

Facts about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The reason for this syndrome is still unknown but studies show that children generally die of suffocation while sleeping.
Every year, only in United States around 3500 babies die from SIDS, as reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This comprises 40% of the death cases, while other death from unexpected suffocation, sleeping-related accidents comprises around 25%.

This syndrome usually happens among six months old children. It can be cause by some object near the child, such as soft pillows, toys, furnishings and others things. They can block the breathing passages and cause suffocation.
Some children may be born with genetic defect that obstructs the vulnerable nasal passages and may cause difficulty breathing and even death by suffocating.
Moreover, sometimes mothers can fall asleep during breast-feeding because they are too tired thus resulting in death of the baby. It is also dangerous if they breast feed the child in an arm-chair with no surrounding support in the case they fall.

The benefits of sharing the same room with the baby

There are a few theoretical views that seem very effective in preventing this syndrome.

Parents are more alertParents are more alert when their children are closer to them. They can simply keep an eye on them, if they are sobbing or making strange sounds so they can immediately react and save their lives.

Babies are more comfortableBabies also feel more secure when they are not alone in the room. Moreover, the sense of the presence of the parent will make them comfortable.

But be careful about the following things:

Have separate sleeping bedsShare the same room but not the same bed with your children simply because a bed for adults does not fit the baby’s needs. If not you, then the pillows and blankets can cause harm. That is why it is best to have separate beds.

Baby sleeping surface is importantThe best sleeping place for children is a crib because they cannot roll of. Babies have to be placed on a firm surface on their backs in order to get the necessary back support. They also need a tightly set sheet that can’t unravel when they roll around. Do not use any pillows, blankets or bed furnishings that can make them feel hot or suffocate them.

Breastfeeding zoneIt is also recommended for mothers to feed their babies in their beds. Someone should always be there in case the mother falls asleep.